Spring is in the air (carrying seratonin)

Feeling a renewed spring in your step? You should, as today is officially the first day of spring.
Bay psychologist Hans Larven says there are many aspects to the new season which give most of us a real boost.
"That can be anything from the relief from the discomfort of wearing heavy clothes and the cold weather, to feeling less frustrated because the season provides more reasons to get active and head outdoors to take advantage of the long awaited extra sunlight hours.''
Mr Larven says winter blues, or in more severe cases full-blown `seasonal affective disorder', affects five per cent of the population, with women four times more likely to be affected than men.
Typically sufferers become low and lethargic, tend to overeat and oversleep, gain weight, and sometimes work and relationships suffer as a result of low confidence and self-esteem.
Mr Larven says for most people spring improves seratonin levels - needed to combat depression and feelings of anxiety - thanks to greater exposure to sunlight.
Even people's sleep patterns may improve, resulting in better concentration and a more optimistic outlook on life.
Bay residents spoken to yesterday were indeed feeling rosy.
Shirley Lynds, 78, of Omokoroa, said to her spring means baby birds in nests, heaps of blossoms, longer days and, of course, the knowledge that summer was coming.
Office administrator Steph Hyatt of Matua said spring represented blue skies, lots of sunny days and "new clothes''.
Tauranga Girls' College student Hanna Wright, 17, of Greerton, had expectations of beautiful, long, sunny days and was glad the end of school was not far away.
Architectural draftsman Glen Tiplady, 32, of Otumoetai, said spring was a time for new beginnings, while Margaret Burke, 57, self-employed drape maker of Pahoia said: "Spring to me means longer days, new life, lots more colour, extra sunshine hours, and more reasons to get in the garden and generally be out and about.''
Alexander Rennie, 32, who was visiting the Bay from Edinburgh, said unlike New Zealand, Scotland didn't really mark spring with any special celebrations or festivals.
"So I'm thoroughly enjoying the significant change in the weather here and the spring growth I have seen during the last few days.''
Bay of Plenty Restaurant Association president Nancy Hogg said restaurant and cafe owners put their tables outside on fine days year-round to enable diners to enjoy the weather.
"But we certainly look forward to more people taking advantage of that now it's spring and with summer just around the corner,'' she said.
Eric Brensturm from the Met Service said the sun would shine in the Western Bay for the rest of this week, although Sunday was expected to be a bit overcast.
Next week wasn't so rosy, as rain from the northeast was expected but may not hit the area until Thursday or Friday.